Not against patriotism
What do you see when the American flag is presented: freedom or oppression? The U.S. is supposed to represent freedom and equality for all. Last year, Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem in protest of police brutality. I supported him and the players who honestly felt discriminated against, not the players who just wanted to stick it to Trump.
Kaepernick is my favorite football player, the first I began to follow; even now I wear his jersey on game day. Some say they are disrespecting soldiers who fought for our freedom. Veterans agree that the protest isn't against them but their right for equality, that they have a right to kneel or stand. My problem with all this is why we can discuss politics as average Joes but when it comes to a celebrity or athletes that they should just shut up and do their jobs which, if you think about it, you're denying them a right you said they are protesting, which is freedom of speech.
Now I see how both sides have a valid point. A question I present when people get upset when they see the kneeling: "Do you stand at home when the anthem is playing?" I always got the same response: "Well, it's different." Then don't get upset when you're doing the same thing.
The reason I support them is because it's their right to kneel or stand. I'm not against patriotism, but I'm against those who are hypocritical in their actions.
MARIO GARCIA
Little Rock
Islands underwater
Do you know that scientists are predicting that in the future many islands are going to be underwater due to global warming? Global warming is something major that is happening right now and we should do something about it.
It is fact that 2016 was the hottest year on record, and it is predicted it will only get warmer. This will cause the sea levels to rise when the polar icecaps melt. There already is proof that the sea levels are rising around the world. Tangier Island in the Chesapeake Bay is already being swallowed by the sea.
Some people argue that earth has periods where it naturally warms up, and they also point to cold winters to disprove global warming. However, they are dangerously wrong.
Imagine being one of the people living on Tangier Island, having to see the ocean creep up on a house that has been in your family for generations. Global warming will not only affect individual families but will also cause bigger natural disasters as well, as animals will go extinct.
I believe global warming is real, and it already is leaving its mark. People can do something about it. Small things like carpooling can help reduce fumes in the ozone. We can also voice our displeasure to big companies that do little to reduce their pollution into the world. Do we want to leave our children in a world falling apart, knowing we could have helped prevent it?
AMADO PASTOR
Danville
Millennials not lazy
Baby boomers are always talking bad about millennials, but they are the ones that raised us. They say we don't care about politics, we're always on our phones, we care more about pop culture than real issues, and I believe that isn't the case. We demonstrate our compassion and empathy by fighting for equality and against injustice.
According to Business Insider, millennials are "the most educated, most diverse, and most indebted generation in America's history." Baby boomers accuse millennials of being lazy, addicted to our phones, and overly sensitive. They think we just sit in our apartments (because we can't afford houses) and binge-watch Netflix and scroll through Instagram. Baby boomers can't accept that the times have changed. Instead of fearing technology and global online communication, why not embrace it?
They say we are too sensitive because we won't tolerate racism, sexism, fascism, etc. It seems that many baby boomers are stuck in the past and don't want our country to progress and treat everyone with fairness and equality. Millennials do a lot to better our society by using their voices to speak out against problematic events and make people feel more accepted.
A recent study has shown that 25- to 34-year-olds now make $10,000 less than they did in 1989. Instead of talking down to us, boomers should encourage the fight against injustice so that the economy will strengthen.
CAITLYN ROBBINS
Little Rock
We deserve clean air
Glen Hooks is exactly right in his recent guest column! Arkansans deserve the public health and financial benefits of clean air. Arkansas officials should be fighting against smog, not siding with coal-fired plants. I applaud the Arkansas Sierra Club for robustly intervening on behalf of Arkansans.
An additional response to disturbing regulatory rollbacks is putting a steadily rising price on carbon. This forces polluters to pay for environmental and public health damage caused and, thus, brings to the marketplace a truer cost of fossil-fuel use. A clear market message is sent to investors, entrepreneurs, consumers and producers: Go with clean energy.
Independent studies show a Carbon Fee and Dividend program can grow the economy, protect family pocketbooks, and clean up the air. While carbon fees may be new to many Arkansans, carbon pricing exists in other nations/territories, including a popular 2008 program in British Columbia. Here in the U.S., conversation is growing across the political spectrum.
This year the conservative Climate Leadership Council released a carbon pricing proposal. Four Democratic senators introduced the American Opportunity Carbon Fee Act. In November, volunteers with the nonpartisan Citizens' Climate Lobby, a 10-year advocate for national Carbon Fee and Dividend legislation, will again meet with D.C. legislators. The bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, a House caucus focused on climate-related issues, is now at 60 members.
Bottom line, as Mr. Hooks aptly indicates: Clean air should unite. These days it may take many players and paths to achieve deserved air quality.
JAN SCHAPER
Russellville
Keep football in LR
With the University of Arkansas only having one game left in Little Rock, I think there has never been a better time for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to get a football team. The city of Little Rock is looking for someone to move into War Memorial Stadium when Arkansas pulls out of its contract.
The mayor of Little Rock said earlier this year, "I think that we should find uses now and I think UALR is a very likely candidate." If people see that we are bringing a football team to UA-Little Rock it could increase enrollment. Some will be against it because it could cost $10-$15 million upfront to start the team.
With Arkansas moving all of its home games to Fayetteville, it leaves the central and southern part of Arkansas without a Division 1 football team to go watch without driving three hours. Kids who play football in Little Rock or around it have to leave the state most of the time to keep playing the sport they love. If we put a team in Little Rock, it gives kids the chance to play in the stadium they grew up in the shadow of and for the team they have dreamed about.
There has never been a better time to keep football in The Rock. Keeping Arkansas kids at home to play the sport they love, in the city they love, and around the people they love can only be a positive for all Arkansans.
DYLAN FORTHMAN
Conway
Editorial on 10/19/2017